Barnes backs club’s strikers to shine soon

Midfielders Scott Arfield, Michael Kightly, Ross Wallace and George Boyd have provided the ammunition for the Clarets to date but Barnes knows his strike partners foster the ability to add to that tally.

Barnes, who struck the bar in the 3-1 defeat to West Ham United at the weekend, hasn’t scored since the Clarets secured promotion from the Championship against Wigan Athletic at Turf Moor in April.

“I can’t buy a goal at the moment,” he said. “I’ve hit the bar, deflections, it’s just not dropping for us. Anyone else that normally hits the bar, it hits the keeper and goes in. We’ve just got to keep going, regroup and get ready for the next one.

“For the strikers it’s frustrating because we haven’t scored since last season but it will come, I’m sure. Of course, without a doubt, we believe in our own ability and if you didn’t, what would be the point of being here? We’re in the Premier League, it’s fantastic so we’ve got to believe. I can cope at this level for sure.”

Barnes has warned his team-mates not to get too downbeat by the defeat to Sam Allardyce’s Hammers.

After Steven Caulker’s late own goal in QPR’s loss to Liverpool on Sunday spared the Clarets from sinking to the bottom of the table, he said: “This is the Premier League, it’s going to be tough but we need to stick together and regroup and we’ll be all right.

“It’s any player’s dream to play in the Premier League and luckily enough we’re doing that now, we’ve just got to believe in our own ability, go out there every week and believe.”

The 24-year-old, who has made just one league start, added: “It’s been quite frustrating for me this season so far but it’s only the start so I just need to get my head down and work hard. I’m confident in my own ability and what I’m capable of, all I can do is show it when I’m out there on the pitch.”